Work to revamp Ringmer Village Hall to start in summer

The hard working committee which manages Ringmer Village Hall is just months away from starting work on improving its important facility.

The scheme includes adding an extra community room, creating a storage room for clubs’ equipment and installing toilets, as well as a disabled toilet.

Fundraising manager for the hall, Pam Bowmaker said construction should start before the summer and estimated the work should cost between £150,000 and £180,000.

The committee just needs to raise another £5,000 to pay for the vital improvements which constitutes phase one of redeveloping the hall.

The changes will mean older people will be more likely to visit due to the revamped toilets. Currently they have to go outside to access the loo.

It will mean club equipment can be left in the storage room. At present clubs take equipment away with them because there is nowhere to keep it.

And it will give village groups more space to stage their activities.

Pam said: “We are bursting at the seams. We have more than 60 regular user groups.”

Raising the money for the work has been the result of tireless work by members of the community and village groups.

Together they have organised village fetes, raffles, tombolas and cake sales, amongst other events, to raise an amazing £220,000, which has gone towards architect’s fees,other costs and the build itself.

For phase two of the village hall redevelopment, the committee plans to apply for Big Lottery funding.

This will include building a second community room and should cost in the region of £150,000 to £200,000, with hopes high work could start late 2016.